‘Influencer’ Explores the Connection Between Manipulation and Murder [The Lady Killers Podcast]

Most of us have a love-hate relationship with social media. Yes, our phones provide hours of entertainment and allow us to connect with the larger world, but the proliferation of social media also fosters harmful comparisons and can leave us feeling inferior to bare acquaintances and outright strangers. And that’s to say nothing of influencer culture. This brand of salesmanship revolves around glamorous social media personalities who draw our attention to products and practices. While there’s nothing inherently wrong with this form of subtle marketing, the line between genuine truth and paid sponsorship can be frighteningly thin. Kurtis David Harder plays with the deadly consequences of social media reach with Influencer, a psychological thriller set in a gorgeous locale. While vacationing in Thailand, three different types of female influencers collide in a deadly game of manipulation and death.

Madison (Emily Tennant) is a social media star traveling on her own after her boyfriend and quasi-manager Ryan (Rory J Saper) backed out of the trip. Frustrated and lonely, she considers ending the relationship and seems to have misgivings about her demanding job. CW (Cassandra Naud), a mysterious woman also staying at the resort, feels like a breath of fresh air. The two women become fast friends and when Madison’s passport is stolen, she agrees to stay at CW’s luxurious inland home. But an overnight trip to an island getaway goes horrifically wrong and Madison finds herself stranded and alone. Having left Madison for dead, CW takes over her popular account and enjoys the perks of her many sponsorship deals. But will her next victim be so easy to influence and will Ryan let his girlfriend disappear without a trace?

The Lady Killers continue Hot Girl Summer with a luxurious trip to a tropical resort. Co-hosts Jenn Adams, Sammie Kuykendall, and Mae Shults discuss the finer points of title card design, Cassandra Naud’s incredible performance, and their own experience with parasocial relationships. Would they each feel comfortable traveling alone? Why does Madison fall for CW’s tricks? Is Ryan a villain or hero and what kind of hashtag should you use with a teddy bear selfie? They’ll scroll through the answers to these questions and more while exploring the power – and danger – of influencer culture.